Black reveals Edman timetable

Wigan left-back Erik Edman is set for a run-out in the reserves in the next couple of weeks, according to assistant Eric Black.

The former Spurs man suffered a serious knee injury just five games into his Latics career after being brought in to ease the burden on converted winger Kevin Kilbane earlier in the year.

But his rehab has gone to plan and he should easily be ready to stake a claim for a first-team place ahead of the busy festive programme.

Black told the Evening Post: "It's been a difficult time for him, with a lot of lonely training sessions for the last six or seven months, doing boring repetitive exercises and stretches.

"But Erik has done that without complaining and deserves a lot of credit. Already he's done a bit of training with the main group and was moving fine in those sessions."

Black added: "When he plays in the reserves all depends on how he does when he rejoins the squad again for more training sessions. I would imagine he'll be ready for the reserves quite soon.

"When he got the injury we said it would probably be late October when he was back, so we're not far off with that estimate."